- Keen interest in healthcare and wellbeing, with a passion for supporting others to live healthier, more balanced lives
- Enjoy cooking and baking, especially as a way to relax and connect with others
- Creative pursuits such as painting, drawing, music, and dancing allow me to express myself and unwind
- Value quality time with friends and whānau
- Love spending time with animals
- Committed to personal growth through physical fitness, health, and beauty, and always enjoy working with and meeting new people in meaningful ways
Ara Kang
Te Aroha,WKO
Summary
Empathetic and people-focused professional with a background in education, administration, customer service, and youth-wellbeing.
Known for strong interpersonal skills, cultural sensitivity, and the ability to support individuals with care, professionalism, and discretion.
Experienced in trauma-informed environments and confident working with diverse communities, including Māori and Pasifika.
Fluent in both English and Korean, with a commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and equitable, inclusive practice.
Seeking a meaningful role where I can support others through challenging experiences and contribute to a fair and compassionate system.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Tūturu Lead
Odyssey
03.2025 - Current
- Led the implementation of the Tūturu wellbeing programme, supporting high school students through holistic, culturally responsive approaches to wellbeing and harm reduction.
- Worked closely with school leadership, pastoral care teams, and external agencies to identify at-risk students and coordinate appropriate support.
- Delivered professional development sessions for teachers, equipping staff with trauma-informed, student-centred strategies to better support wellbeing across the school.
- Facilitated early intervention strategies and supported staff in trauma-informed approaches to student care.
- Maintained confidentiality while handling sensitive student information and supported schools navigating challenges around complex students.
- Developed and delivered wellbeing resources and initiatives aligned with school values and national health education goals.
- Demonstrated strong interpersonal skills and empathy when engaging with students, whānau, and staff in emotionally sensitive contexts.
Administrator
Youth INtact (Odyssey)
08.2022 - 03.2025
- Provided administrative support to a youth-focused AOD support service, maintaining accurate records, answering phone calls, managing correspondence, and supporting day-to-day service operations.
- Ensured confidentiality and sensitivity when handling client files and service user information in line with privacy and ethical standards.
- Took detailed and accurate meeting minutes, including during confidential management meetings, and ensured secure distribution and storage of records.
- Acted as the organisation’s Health and Safety Lead, conducting regular audits of the building and vehicles, ensuring compliance with safety protocols, and leading emergency preparedness.
- Managed stocktaking and ordering of supplies, keeping inventory up to date and ensuring resources were available for staff and service users.
- Coordinated catering and logistics for team meetings and community events, including setup, dietary needs, and clean-up.
- Took responsibility for maintaining a clean and welcoming office environment, including tidying shared spaces and ensuring facilities were presentable and functional.
- Supported the wider team with event planning, resource creation, and liaising with external providers when required.
- Assisted in onboarding new staff by preparing induction materials and H&S briefings.
- Maintained systems for vehicle bookings, repairs, or usage logs.
Barista
Columbus Coffee
06.2021 - 09.2022
- Prepared a wide range of high-quality espresso-based drinks and provided friendly, efficient customer service in a fast-paced café environment.
- Prepared and served cabinet food and made-to-order items, maintaining high standards of food safety and presentation.
- Supported daily kitchen operations, including kitchenhand duties, dishwashing, restocking, and food prep.
- Maintained a clean and hygienic work environment, regularly cleaning equipment, food preparation areas, and front-of-house.
- Managed social media content and promotions for the café, creating engaging posts to attract customers and promote specials.
- Worked collaboratively in a small team, balancing multiple tasks while maintaining a positive and welcoming atmosphere for customers.
- Handled cash and EFTPOS transactions accurately and responsibly.
- Trained new staff on café procedures and customer service expectations.
Primary School Teacher
Springdale School
01.2020 - 03.2021
- Provided warm, supportive environment for developing academic, social and emotional growth.
- Designed daily lesson plans customized to student needs.
- Worked one-on-one with students to determine strengths, weaknesses and learning patterns.
- Established open communication and positive relationships with students, parents, peers
and administrative staff. - Developed learning objectives for each subject area to quantify learning and set benchmarks.
- Fostered student curiosity and interest in learning through hands-on activities and field trips.
- Created and presented clever lessons to engage students and focus on core subjects necessary for personal and academic growth.
- Fostered positive and pleasant classroom culture while maintaining learning development goals.
- Met with parents to review Individualized Education Plans for at-risk students.
- Maintained student portfolios to monitor learning progress and completion of work required for promotion to next grade level.
- Used learning stations to incorporate colors, shapes and textures to help students develop communication skills and build relationships.
Primary School Teacher
Elstow-Waihou Combined School
06.2018 - 11.2019
- Maintained positive and professional classroom environment throughout school year.
- Established open communication and positive relationships with students, parents, peers and administrative staff.
- Provided warm, supportive environment for developing academic, social and emotional growth.
- Designed daily lesson plans customized to student needs.
- Worked one-on-one with students to determine strengths, weaknesses and learning patterns.
- Developed communicative relationships with students and parents to support learning.
- Developed positive rapport with students of various and diverse backgrounds.
- Developed problem-solving and critical-thinking skills by presenting challenges to boost
self-esteem and performance. - Developed learning objectives for each subject area to quantify learning and set benchmarks.
- Fostered student curiosity and interest in learning through hands-on activities and field trips.
- Taught core subjects of math, science, technology and history.
- Created and presented clever lessons to engage students and focus on core subjects necessary for personal and academic growth.
- Fostered positive and pleasant classroom culture while maintaining learning development goals.
- Assessed and improved lesson plans through implementation and experimentation.
- Included multicultural awareness in class discussions to meet state standards.
- Met with parents and caregivers to review Individualized Education Plans for at-risk students.
- Reinforced positive behaviour by encouraging efforts through affirmation statements and
praising accomplishments. - Prepared and administered grade-specific tests and examinations regulated by school district to monitor students' growth and to report progress to parents.
- Created study guides, research materials, and syllabi for students.
- Maintained student portfolios to monitor learning progress and completion of work required for promotion to next grade level.
- Coached students on physical and emotional safety as part of health curriculum.
- Used learning stations to incorporate colours, shapes and textures to help students develop communication skills and build relationships.
- Administered various reading tests and determined student reading levels based on assessment findings.
- Escalated consistent problematic behaviour problems to school officials and senior staff.
- Met and exceeded class-wide achievement and proficiency standards as established by state testing departments.
- Developed innovative and diverse methods for teaching children aged 7 to 9 using technology integration and experimental learning.
- Distributed and collected classroom materials such as worksheets, quizzes and tests.
Supervisor
SIEBA
06.2016 - 08.2016
- Supervised and organized activities for exchange students from South Korea aged 12-18 years during an orientation programme.
- Applied strong leadership talents and problem-solving skills to maintain team efficiency and organize workflows.
- Maintained compliance with company policies, objectives and communication goals.
- Provided oral interpretations for Korean students and other organizers/supervisors during the programme.
Barista, Waitress, & Sales Assistant
Espresso Banco
09.2014 - 03.2016
- Upsold drink specialty items, wine selections and desserts to increase overall sales and
exceed targets. - Memorized recipes for specialty coffee beverages and seasonal offerings.
- Educated coworkers and customers about new products.
- Pleasantly interacted with customers during hectic periods to promote fun, positive environment.
- Created wide variety of hot and cold drinks in average shifts with consistently positive customer satisfaction scores.
- Cleaned counters, machines, utensils and seating areas daily.
- Maintained and operated espresso machines, blenders, commercial coffee brewers, coffee pots and other equipment.
- Maintained regular and consistent attendance and punctuality.
- Sanitized equipment and wiped down counters and tables to prevent spread of germs.
- Used cash registers and credit card machines to cash out customers.
Kept server areas clean and stocked to increase efficiency while working tables. - Greeted new customers, discussed specials and took drink orders.
- Assisted customers with prompt and polite support in-person and via telephone.
- Helped customers locate products and checked store system for merchandise at other sites.
- Used consultative sales approach to understand customer needs and recommend relevant
offerings. - Fielded customer questions to share information about products, availability and pricing.
- Input credit and debit card payments in POS system to complete purchases.
- Completed orders and organized product deliveries to meet customer timetables.
- Maintained records related to sales, returns and inventory availability.
- Referred customers to various services by evaluating needs and providing recommendations.
Barista, Waitress, & Cook
Chamberlain Cafe
02.2014 - 08.2014
- Created original artwork for specials board display daily.
- Upsold drink specialty items, wine selections and desserts to increase overall sales and
exceed targets. - Trained new employees in groups and in one-on-one scenarios.
- Cleaned counters, machines, utensils and seating areas daily.
- Pleasantly interacted with customers during hectic periods to promote fun, positive
environment. - Suggested appropriate food and drink pairings to increase per-ticket sales.
- Restocked display cases with attractive arrangements to promote specialty food items like
bagels and muffins. - Created wide variety of hot and cold drinks in average shifts with consistently positive
customer satisfaction scores. - Maintained espresso equipment and performed minor repairs to keep coffee machines functioning properly.
- Constantly expanded personal knowledge of coffee styles and varieties.
- Prepared multiple orders simultaneously during peak periods with high accuracy rate,
maximizing customer satisfaction and repeat business. - Set up and prepared cooking supplies and workstations during opening and closing to maximize productivity.
- Took food orders from cashiers and cooked items quickly to complete order items together and serve hot.
- Helped customers complete purchases, locate items and join reward programs.
- Maintained secure cash drawers, promptly resolving discrepancies in daily totals.
- Worked independently with minimal supervision.
Caregiver
Kenwyn Care Hospital
11.2011 - 01.2013
- Assisted with dressing guidance, grooming, meal preparation and medication reminders.
- Assisted patients with daily living needs to maintain self-esteem and general wellness.
- Built strong relationships with patients to deliver emotional support and companionship.
- Cleaned facility, ran errands, managed laundry
Supported patients with mental support and physical activities to accomplish quality of life and sustain needs. - Provided safe mobility support to help patients move around personal and public spaces.
- Assisted with feeding and monitored intake to help patients achieve nutritional objectives.
- Turned and positioned bedbound patients to prevent bedsores and maintain comfort levels.
- Changed dressings, bandages and binders to maintain proper healing and sanitary measures.
- Recognized and reported abnormalities or changes in patients' health status to case manager.
- Transported patients via wheelchair to and from rehabilitation and daily activities.
- Monitored, tracked and conveyed important patient information to healthcare staff to help optimize treatment planning and care delivery.
- Conferred with supervisor to discuss patient condition and medical care.
Education
Bachelor of Education - Primary Teaching - Education
University of Waikato
Hamilton, NZ08-2018
NCEA Level 3 -
Te Aroha College
Te Aroha, NZ12-2009
Skills
- Empathy & Emotional Intelligence - Skilled at building trust, supporting people in distress, and responding with compassion in high-pressure or sensitive situations
- Strong Interpersonal Communication - Experienced in working with diverse individuals and teams across educational, community, and professional settings
- Confidentiality & Professional Boundaries - Trusted to manage sensitive information in teaching, administration, and support service environments
- Trauma-Informed Practice (Basic Understanding) – Exposure to wellbeing-focused roles (Tuturu Lead, Admin at Youth AOD Service) and supporting vulnerable youth
- Organisation & Time Management - Proven ability to manage competing tasks, meet deadlines, and maintain structured systems
- Minute-Taking & Documentation - Accurate and discreet documentation of meetings, including confidential management discussions
- Health & Safety Compliance - Experience leading H&S audits, building checks, and vehicle inspections in a service-based setting
- Cultural Competency & Te Tiriti o Waitangi Awareness - Committed to working respectfully and inclusively with Māori, Pasifika, and other diverse communities
Interests
Timeline
Tūturu Lead
Odyssey
03.2025 - Current
Administrator
Youth INtact (Odyssey)
08.2022 - 03.2025
Barista
Columbus Coffee
06.2021 - 09.2022
Primary School Teacher
Springdale School
01.2020 - 03.2021
Primary School Teacher
Elstow-Waihou Combined School
06.2018 - 11.2019
Supervisor
SIEBA
06.2016 - 08.2016
Barista, Waitress, & Sales Assistant
Espresso Banco
09.2014 - 03.2016
Barista, Waitress, & Cook
Chamberlain Cafe
02.2014 - 08.2014
Caregiver
Kenwyn Care Hospital
11.2011 - 01.2013
Bachelor of Education - Primary Teaching - Education
University of Waikato
NCEA Level 3 -
Te Aroha College
Similar Profiles
Ramona SuarezRamona Suarez
Facility Operations at OdysseyFacility Operations at Odyssey
Pablo QuirozPablo Quiroz
Warehouse Associate at OdysseyWarehouse Associate at Odyssey
Katie RogersKatie Rogers
Head of Operations at OdysseyHead of Operations at Odyssey
Claire AshtonClaire Ashton
Journalist at Self-employedJournalist at Self-employed